Citing "personal reasons," Calzona J. Hall has withdrawn as an appointee to the St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners.

County Executive Charlie A. Dooley announced Hall's decision on Monday in a letter to members of the County Council.

In place of Hall, Dooley appointed Ray Wagner, a vice president at Enterprise Leasing, pending council approval.

Hall, 73, of Chesterfield, retired in 1991 as deputy chief of the St. Louis Police Department. He could not be reached for comment.

County spokesman Mac Scott said Hall had asked Dooley to withdraw his name. "It is my understanding that Calzona has family issues that he needs to attend to," Scott said Monday.

Dooley appointed Hall and John Saracino in January to fill the expired terms of board members Sheila Hoffmeister and Patrick A. Twardowski.

The council held up the confirmations over concerns that Dooley was seeking to oust Police Chief Jerry Lee, with whom he had feuded over the issue of police pay.

Last week, Lee announced that he would retire no later than Aug. 1.

Wagner is vice president of government and legislative affairs for Enterprise, where he has worked for 14 years. He could not be reached for comment.

The other members of the police board are Jimmy L. Brown, Gregory Sansone and Floyd C. Warmann. Their terms also have expired, but they can remain in their positions until the county executive replaces them.

BY Paul Hampel
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/31/2009